Monday, September 08, 2008

Sexism watch

On MSNBC, Rachel Maddow spoke about Sec. Rice's latest diplomatic initiative with the country that the Bush administration has previously convinced to renounce its nuclear weapon program as follows:

But first, the headlines breaking in the administration's 50 running scandals: "Bushed." ... And number one: "Pillow Talk with Terrorists-Gate." Who's holding talks in Libya today? The highest-ranking U.S. official to do so since 1953? That would be Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

For liberals, a diplomatic initiative is reduced to "pillow-talk" when a woman is involved.

MORE: Tammy Bruce, a former president of the Los Angeles chapter of NOW, reviews sexism in the Democratic party's primaries (hat tip: Instapundit):

The rank bullying of the Clinton candidacy during the primary season has the distinction of simply being the first revelation of how misogynistic the party has become. The media led the assault, then the Obama campaign continued it. Trailblazer Geraldine Ferraro, who was the first Democratic vice presidential candidate, was so taken aback by the attacks that she publicly decried nominee Barack Obama as "terribly sexist" and openly criticized party chairman Howard Dean for his remarkable silence on the obvious sexism.

Concerned feminists noted, among other thinly veiled sexist remarks during the campaign, Obama quipping, "I understand that Sen. Clinton, periodically when she's feeling down, launches attacks as a way of trying to boost her appeal," and Democratic Rep. Steve Cohen in a television interview comparing Clinton to a spurned lover-turned-stalker in the film, "Fatal Attraction," noting, "Glenn Close should have stayed in that tub, and Sen. Clinton has had a remarkable career...". These attitudes, and more, define the tenor of the party leadership, and sent a message to the grassroots and media that it was "Bros Before Hoes," to quote a popular Obama-supporter T-shirt.